Author Topic: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update  (Read 6468 times)

witsu

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Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« on: February 27, 2020, 10:54:59 pm »
I am looking for some advice on how to recover the BMC on my Talos II after a failed attempt to upgrade to the new 2.0 firmware.
I can see the BMC heartbeat LED flashing rapidly on the board, and I am not able to get any output on the serial console.

From what I've read on the wiki, it looks like I will either need to get a flash programmer to externally re program the chip.
Has anyone here done this recently and can recommend what kind to get?

Thanks

MPC7500

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2020, 07:49:49 am »
AFAIK, you could reprogramming through J7701 header with a serial adopter. No ISP programmer needed. I have an ASSMANN AK-610300-003-E.

You already read this guide?
Debricking the BMC

I haven't done this till now.

witsu

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2020, 11:00:15 am »
Yea I looked at that guide already.
The first 2 methods didn't work for me, I am not getting any output from the BMC over the serial console.
The other method requires the  ASPEED SOC Flash Utility which I don't have, and the link seems to be broken. I assume that's because you need to be a registered developer now to get it. I haven't looked into regisering yet, I assumed getting a flash programmer would probably be cheaper.

ClassicHasClass

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2020, 04:01:31 pm »
What method did you use to update it that went wrong?

witsu

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2020, 04:13:11 pm »
I was trying to follow the instructions for upgrading to 2.0 on the wiki https://wiki.raptorcs.com/wiki/File:Talos-ii-openbmc-v2.00-bundle.tar

I copied image-bmc over, rebooted th BMC, and then it didn't come back online after that.

FlyingBlackbird

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2020, 04:38:45 pm »
The other method requires the  ASPEED SOC Flash Utility which I don't have, and the link seems to be broken. I assume that's because you need to be a registered developer now to get it.
I haven't looked into regisering yet, I assumed getting a flash programmer would probably be cheaper.

It looks like you can download a backup version of the SOC Flash Utility here (not verified - treat this as untrusted source and apply virus checks first eg. via online scanners):

https://github.com/abrahamrhoffman/bmc_tools

MPC7500

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2020, 06:18:54 pm »
This error occurs if you forget to decompress the file, AFAIK.

witsu

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #7 on: February 29, 2020, 11:26:12 am »
Yea, I don't remember for sure, but that's certainly possible that I just renamed and forgot to decompress the file. I've done firmware updates before with out any issues, so probably just screwed up something this time.

I am a little concerned over using an untrusted utility to recover the BMC, I wouldn't want some malware to get down in there. Not sure how likely that is. Could re flashing the BMC the regular way immediately after take care of that? Or do I actually need to get a flash programmer?

ClassicHasClass

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #8 on: February 29, 2020, 11:45:27 am »
It should, yes. At worst it just won't work -- you won't be any worse off.

MPC7500

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #9 on: February 29, 2020, 01:13:43 pm »
If you don't trust the Github source, you could ask JSharp. He has the ASpeed utilities, too.
I assume you're on the Talos IRC, too? aperson678?

witsu

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #10 on: February 29, 2020, 05:13:06 pm »
Actually I haven't tried asking in the IRC chat yet.
I had tried to get on there a few months ago but wasn't able to.
I just got some message saying I was banned as soon as I tried to sign in.
I can try again now though.

MPC7500

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #11 on: February 29, 2020, 09:02:12 pm »
At the moment there is someone who has the similar problem.

You are banned

witsu

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #12 on: March 01, 2020, 11:08:13 pm »
I ordered a Bus Pirate and cable. We'll see if I am able to get anywhere with it.

MPC7500

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #13 on: March 02, 2020, 07:57:48 pm »
It should also work with the serial adopter on header J7701. If that doesn't work I hardly guess the pinout of the adopter is wrong or you used the wrong USB DB9 cable.

witsu

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Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
« Reply #14 on: March 02, 2020, 09:36:21 pm »
With the Bus Pirate you mean ? Or using socflash?
My serial adapter should work since I used it before after a bad update and was able to use the u-boot tftp method to recover.
This time is different though since I get no output at all.